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During consultations, various topics are discussed between vets and owners. They are often unrelated to the pet’s current illness but may be of particular interest to the owner. Often they are topical subjects which have recently made the press. One subject that continues to raise discussion is Cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), also known as, Alabama Rot. It presents in a very similar way to a disease recorded in Alabama in the 1980’s in Greyhounds.
CRGV causes damage to the blood vessels in the skin and kidneys. It causes tiny blood clots to form in the blood vessels which can block leading to tissue damage. The effect in the skin is ulceration but in the kidney can lead to severe organ damage and kidney failure.
Despite extensive research, it is still unclear what causes this disease. It is now considered highly unlikely that plants are a trigger, as previously thought. Whether the cause is a toxin, bacterium, virus or other, still remains under investigation. As such, not knowing the cause makes providing advice on prevention very difficult! Washing any mud off your dog on return from a walk may seem sensible but on the other hand, we have no evidence to suggest this is necessary or helpful.
Alabama Rot was first recorded in this country in 2012 in the New Forest. It has since been reported in many counties so there is no current advice to avoid particular areas. One thing to make very clear is this disease is very rare. There have only been approximately 60 cases recorded to date. In context, we have several thousand pets registered and we have not had a confirmed case at our practice to date. This does not mean it is not important but we have to put the numbers into context.
There is no breed, age or sex predilection and there is no current test for this disease prior to tissue samples being taken post-mortem. As the cause is unknown, no vaccination is available. Treatment involves appropriate wound management with antibiotics if indicated, and hospitalisation and intravenous fluid therapy, if kidney damage is suspected.
As you can see, there is an awful lot we do not know about this disease. So, what do we know and what steps can be taken?
The disease is characterised by ulceration to the limbs or mouth of dogs. A number of dogs went on to show signs of kidney failure which frequently proved fatal. Signs of acute kidney disease are vomiting, inappetence and lethargy. Any unexplained lesions on the extremities should prompt a visit to the vet, and kidney function can be assessed at that point. It will potentially be reassessed again 24-48 hours later if within normal limits the first time. There is no evidence to support the treatment of kidney disease as a preventative measure prior to a diagnosis. There is also a seasonal pattern with almost every case being reported between November and June.
I think it is important to remember that this is still a very rare condition. We do need to be aware of it, however. Be vigilant to the signs described above and seek advice from your vets if at all concerned. Our hope is the number of cases continue to remain low and that ongoing research will yield more answers shortly.
